[withinboredom]

Before having a child, it was something I thought about and my wife and I would occasionally discuss. Now my son asks, "How can you do this to me? You've screwed up our planet and there is nothing I can do for at least ten years," (direct quote after coming home from school yesterday -- he's 9).

Our kids are worried about it, more so than our generation, that's for sure.

[revelio]

That's clearly ideological brainwashing and you should take it up with the head teacher. It's not only factual nonsense to believe what your son is saying, but also dangerous. You definitely don't want him to be added to the ranks of the "i killed myself to save the planet" brigade.

[withinboredom]

> you should take it up with the head teacher.

I don't want to teach my son that him misunderstanding something is someone else's fault. Obviously, this wasn't taught in class. He was taught lots of things and was a conclusion he came to on his own. Like nobody ever told me that a McDonald's hamburger will cost around $50 when I retire, I simply did some math based on the average inflation. Will it actually? no idea. But I know that I should probably have that much more in my retirement account.

[revelio]

And what were these "lots of things" that led to him concluding the world is now ruined by you, his parent? Cuz I definitely don't recall anything like that being on the curriculum when I was a kid.

No, pretty sure he concluded exactly what his teachers wanted him to conclude. Nine year olds are not famous for their critical thinking and deep research skills.

[withinboredom]

> Nine year olds are not famous for their critical thinking and deep research skills.

See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35975422

> No, pretty sure he concluded exactly what his teachers wanted him to conclude.

Do you know us IRL or something?

[revelio]

The whole thing hangs on (2) which he isn't in any position to critically evaluate. No kid would be.

[david38]

If your son is talking like that, it’s a strong signal you haven’t properly put things in perspective for him. The world has always been horrible in one way or another. Go ahead. Pick a time.

This is a 100% attitude and filtering issue.

[ChatGTP]

Man this must be hard on everyone. You and your son included.

[anjc]

Are you going to raise this with the school? It seems highly inappropriate on their part

[withinboredom]

Why would I bring my son’s opinions up with the school? Because they learned about global warming? Nah, we had a sit down talk about it and how it isn’t “any one specific person’s” fault.

[AnimalMuppet]

Because from the description, one of two things probably happened: Either the school taught a secular version of a "put the fear of God into them" lesson, and your kid came home in feeling like he literally should not have been born, or another kid talked to him with the same result. That's a really unfair message to hand a 9-year-old.

[withinboredom]

It seems like a natural conclusion:

1. Teach: humanity has done X to the environment

2. Teach: if we don’t do something Y will happen

3. Conclude: I was not alive to do X

4. Ergo: the adults in my life did X

5. Ergo: the adults in my life will continue to do X which will cause Y because I can’t affect meaningful change

I don’t automatically assume they start at step 5 at school. I’ve seen his math homework. Is that a normal way of thinking though?

To automatically assume that with my son would teach him (likely, inadvertently) that what he learns at school may not be right (which isn’t true, for the most part). Rather I want to teach him that he takes ownership of the words that come out of his mouth. That his opinions are his own and he has to defend them, and further learn what is an opinion and what is a fact.

[balfirevic]

> what he learns at school may not be right

Wait, you don't teach him that?

[withinboredom]

No, because it is obvious past a certain age or once you know enough about the world. At his age, I want him to learn, enjoy learning, and trust his teachers to answer questions. I want him to learn, more importantly, that he can misunderstand something and it isn't the other person's fault. Schools teach the basics of the world, so by definition, are always wrong; but, with just the basics, you can make it quite far in the world...

[anjc]

Maybe I misunderstood but it seemed that he learned it was your fault, rather than this being an opinion he formed.

[withinboredom]

I mean it slightly is. I leave lights on, take long showers, drive a car, and lots of other things.